Welcome to IICUS                                    

Owner: T Bastable

No Master but the Laws 
IICUS - the International Institute of Cricket Umpiring & Scoring - is the professional body working for the interests of cricket umpires and scorers everywhere and, in particular, training those umpires and scorers active in the recreational game.

For as long as cricket has been played there have been independent umpires to ensure observance of its Laws, with scorers to record accurately what happens on the field. Independent officials ensure that the game is played fairly; they are not interested in who wins. Nor does it matter to them who arranged the match; how many spectators there are; where they come from; who they support; what they paid for their tickets; how much prize-money is at stake; what the TV rights cost; or whether the 'star player' pleases the crowd with a dashing century or is bowled first ball for a duck.

These are the business of the governing body of the game, the league administrators, the competition organisers, the sponsor, the club treasurer, the team manager, coach, captain and the players. They are not the concerns of the umpires and umpires must never allow themselves to be compromised by such influences. The game needs genuinely independent officials - it cannot survive credibly without them. To maintain that independence means that umpires and scorers can serve but one master only - The Laws of Cricket.

That is why the Institute's logo is XLII, the number 42 in Roman numerals - that's the number of Laws of Cricket - and why the Institute's motto is No Master but the Laws.

IICUS shares that same deep love of cricket - but that's not enough. The price of guaranteeing their independence is training to become - and to remain - the best. Umpires and scorers at all levels owe it to the players, the clubs, the governing bodies, their Institute and themselves to be, and to remain, as highly trained, highly qualified, competent and professional as possible.

Owner: EdexcelIICUS has taken umpire training into the twenty-first century, with a range of all-new multi-media courses leading to what is the world's first independently-accredited qualification in this field - the IICUS BTEC Certificate in Cricket Umpiring, validated by Edexcel. The courses started in the autumn of 2007 in 3 Edexcel-approved centres in Liverpool, Gloucester and Northants. Introductory 'foundation' courses and more advanced courses have been developed and were launched in the autumn of 2008. Radically new specialised multi-media training courses for scorers have been developed and a number of highly successful scoring courses have been held..

Learning how to become a competent and confident umpire is not like taking home a 'Highway Code-version' of the MCC Laws of Cricket and flicking through it over the weekend; but, though it may not be quick, it's hugely enjoyable. To see a summary of what's involved, visit Training.

Apart from being the new, representative, voice and face of independent umpires and scorers and providing new, rigorous, world-leading training courses and assessments, IICUS aims to deliver...
  • Continuous professional assessment and mentoring
  • Regular training and development forums
  • An interactive website
  • Technical publications
  • A free Laws advice Help Desk
IICUS which was founded in may 2007 is committed to delivering the best possible courses, so whether you want to become an umpire or scorer, or you already are one, or you're just interested in the subject, we're ready and waiting to welcome you.